Work on removal of 48,000 slums near railway tracks in New Delhi started

The Supreme Court has ordered the removal of around 48,000 slums around 140 km of railway tracks in New Delhi within three months and further directed that no court should give any stay on the removal of slums.

have been occupying the railway land for years, making them aware of the order of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court gave this order on Wednesday. The Supreme Court has ordered the removal of around 48,000 slums around 140 km of railway tracks in New Delhi within three months and further directed that no court should give any stay on the removal of slums.

The Supreme Court has said in the order that if any court issues an interim order in respect of encroachment around the railway line then it will not be effective. The Supreme Court has passed this order in the MC Mehta case in which the Supreme Court has been issuing orders from time to time on issues related to pollution in and around Delhi since 1985.

Political pressure and interference will not be tolerated – Supreme Court

Railways said in the Supreme Court that there is encroachment of slum dwellers along the 140 km long railway line in Delhi-NCR, with 70 km line it is very high which is about 48000 slums. Railways said that the NGT had ordered in October 2018 under which a Special Task Force was formed to remove these slums but due to political interference this encroachment around the railway line has not been removed. Railways said that there is a lot of encroachment in the security zone of the railway, which is very worrying.